RESEARCH released today by environmental charity City to Sea revealed the public overwhelmingly want to see the government take action against plastic, with 73 percent of people stating the government should ban as much single-use packaging as possible.
Over half of those (64 percent) surveyed also agreed that a ban on single-use plastic in dine-in settings must be implemented, following in the footsteps of France where all brasseries, cafés and multinational chains, with more than 20 seats per venue, must provide reusable packaging.
The move has already diverted an estimated 180,000 tonnes of waste from landfill[1], and City to Sea has called on the government to introduce a similar ban in the UK, by launching an online petition, gathering 30,000 signatures.
A large majority (85 percent) of people would like to see a reduction in plastic litter in their local area, which could be largely helped by the introduction of policies such as a Deposit Return Scheme that includes glass.
Existing solutions to the plastic crisis such as refill and reuse are in operation, with those in industry calling for government intervention to scale up, and expedite the positive effects of, these programmes
Reuse is a particularly popular solution to the plastic crisis with 77 percent of Britons wanting to see brands and retailers offer more refill and reusable packaging options.
A range of retailers now have reusable packaging schemes in place, with M&S announcing the expansion of its initiative to 25 stores nationwide, and Ocado launching its own version for dried goods in August, but it seems the public want more.
Despite an ambitious goal to transition to a zero-waste economy by 2050, the Labour government has yet to tackle the far-reaching effects of plastic pollution.
With Labour’s first 100 days in office now in the rearview mirror, campaigners are urging the government to get to work on the plastic problem.
City to Sea revealed the research during a parliamentary reception hosted by Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
During the event, City to Sea urged the new government to respond to the public’s demand and lead the way in reuse, calling for a ban on single-use food service materials in dine-in settings, legally binding targets for reusable and refillable packaging and the introduction of an all-in DRS.
Over a dozen MPs attended the reception, including Sarah Dyke MP, Ann Davies MP and Ben Maguire MP alongside industry representatives from M&S, Ecover and Unpacked while representatives from leading environmental organisations including Greenpeace also showed their support.
Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea said: “The government cannot continue to drag their feet on the plastic problem as piles of waste continue to line our streets and shores. With an ambitious goal to be zero-waste by 2050, policy needs to be rolled out now to facilitate that vision, including legally binding targets for reusable packaging, an all-in DRS and ambitious plastic bans.
“Our polling shows a clear statement from the public that they are trying to do their bit, but expect the government to do more, including banning single-use plastic in dine-in settings. All the government has to do is act. City to Sea will continue to work with parliamentarians across the House to deliver decisive action and end the scourge of single-use plastic.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:
“We’ve set a target of becoming carbon neutral in our city-region by 2038, but we know that achieving this goal requires action at all levels. We have a real opportunity to lead the way in advancing a circular economy and recognise the urgent need to act now and act fast to change how we produce, consume, and use plastics.
“By embracing circular practices, we can significantly reduce our environmental impact, stimulate economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for everyone in Greater Manchester. That’s why I’m calling on the Government to support City to Sea’s Reuse Manifesto and their efforts to accelerate a circular economy in the UK, with reuse at its heart.
“Expanding our waste regulatory system to include broader producer responsibility and creating a legislative framework with ambitious reuse targets will drive the necessary shift to a circular economy and create a level playing field for organisations to adopt sustainable practices that will put an end to our throw-away society.”
Co-Founder and CEO of Ocean Bottle, Nick Doman adds “Data shows that people are ready for change and want to see more reuse solutions on offer. What we need now is for the Government to take action and set legally binding, time bound targets for reusable and refillable packaging. At Ocean Bottle, we don't just want our bottles to end up on a shelf, we want to drive usage of our product to encourage refill behaviour. That's why we’re pleased to be supporting City to Sea and the call for the government to do more to tackle the plastic crisis. Reuse and refill are the future.”
[1] ZWF 2017 - https://resource.co/article/mcdonald-s-ecycling-and-waste-management-insufficient-says-french-report-11870